DEMJ5104_nothing_to_fear_report_140217_WEBv1

4 Spain The acceptance

4 Spain The acceptance of globalisation Spanish people hold remarkably favourable attitudes to globalisation compared with other EU countries, a trait they have in common with the people of another country in the Demos sample, Poland. Both countries, which share a relatively late incorporation to the EU and a long experience of authoritarianism and international isolation, stand out for their enthusiasm for globalisation. Both countries are well above the average in their perception of the positive character of the impact of globalisation on Europe as a whole, on the country, on the local area and on the personal life of respondents (figures 12, 13 and 14). The economic crisis has hit Spain much harder than Poland, which may serve to explain the differences between two countries which are otherwise remarkably similar (table 5 and figure 11). Table 5 The proportion of Spaniards who have a negative opinion of globalisation and are against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, compared with those views held by all EU respondents EU average (%) Spain (%) Negative opinion of globalisation 40 32 Against TTIP 34 28 Source: European Commission, ‘Public opinion in the European Union’. 27